Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)

Improving Biosecurity With 

Wildlife Management Practices: 

Preventing Access to Barns 

and Other Facilities 

Avian influenza and other diseases that impact domestic poultry often cause 

little or no illness in wildlife. That’s why seemingly healthy wild birds and 

animals could spread disease onto farms when they are attracted to areas 

with abundant food, water, and/or shelter.

You can strengthen your farm biosecurity by putting wildlife management 

practices in place. There are several nonlethal ways to make farms less 

welcoming to wildlife.

Wild birds and animals visit barns, silos, and other structures at farms and 

poultry facilities to nest, rest, or seek shelter. The practices below can help 

you stop wildlife from nesting and living in and near your poultry facilities and 

from coming into direct contact with your poultry. Keeping wildlife away from 

your farm also helps you avoid accidentally transporting wildlife feces and 

secretions that may contain harmful viruses or bacteria into your facilities on 

boots, equipment, and food. 

Inspect Structures

The design of some poultry facilities may help to attract or deter wildlife. 

For example, structures with shorter eaves or no overhangs are less likely to 

attract nesting birds. Structures with top-vein ventilation, roof-top vents, and 

overhead wires may attract perching birds—allowing their feces to drop near 

or directly onto the barn floor. You can easily spot problem areas by looking 

for whitewash from bird feces on the ground below eaves or on rafters.

Take time to inspect your facilities and look for structures that may attract 

wildlife. Biologists with Wildlife Services, a program within the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, can help 

you conduct an onsite assessment.

Plug Holes and Burrows

Plug and patch holes in building exteriors to prevent rodents and wild birds 

such as European starlings from using them for nesting or shelter. Also, check 

all screens and door openings regularly and repair or replace them when 

damaged to prevent wildlife from entering your facilities.

Concrete aprons around building side walls can deter rodents, cottontail 

rabbits, and other small animals from burrowing into buildings. Fill small 

burrows, tunnels, and other holes around structures with gravel. 

There are several nonlethal 

management methods for 

reducing wildlife’s potential 

spread of disease on farms.
Install Barriers, Netting, and Other Deterrents

Wild birds often use ledges, rafters, and eaves as roosting and nesting sites. 

Install barriers or other deterrents, such as repellent gel or bird spikes, to 

these areas. 

Nylon netting or wire mesh should be tightly secured on all sides and regularly 

inspected for holes and wear. Ten- or 12-gauge mesh with 1-inch openings will 

exclude most bird species if it’s properly installed and maintained. Otherwise, 

exclusion netting can actually benefit nesting birds by forming small pockets 

that protect their nests from predators, so be sure to inspect it regularly. 

Before nesting season begins, remember to wash away or remove old nests 

per Federal and State regulations. If their nests were successful, birds often 

return to the same nesting location year after year. Farm managers can consult 

with local, State, or Federal biologists to learn more about the wildlife nesting 

period in their area. Please note that it is unlawful to remove native wild bird 

nests with eggs or young in them.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Program Aid No. 2210 • Revised February 2022

Learn More

If you have specific questions about how to manage wildlife on your farm or 

need help conducting a wildlife assessment, call the USDA’s Wildlife Services 

program toll free at 1-866-4USDA-WS (1-866-487-3297).

For general information on avian influenza and emergency response, go to 

www.aphis.usda.gov and search “avian influenza.”

The lethal removal of native wildlife is regulated under Federal and State laws. 

USDA and other experts do not recommend lethally removing native wild birds to 

prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza or other diseases. Because 

wild birds are abundant and constantly moving, using lethal methods is not practical 

or environmentally sound. It is much more effective to remove sources of wildlife 

attraction than to manage wild animals after they have arrived on your property.

Checklist

Conduct a wildlife assessment at your farm. Do wild animals have access 

to food, water, and/or shelter on your site? If so, learn about and use 

wildlife management methods to improve your biosecurity.

Inspect your buildings and other structures regularly for holes, tears, and 

other openings that would allow wildlife access to poultry or poultry feed 

and equipment. 

Prevent wild birds and other wildlife from nesting, roosting, and living in 

or near your poultry facilities by plugging and patching holes and installing 

barriers and deterrents.

Do not walk or drive trucks, tractors, or other equipment through areas 

where waterfowl or other wildlife feces may be present. 

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